Johannesburg – Food shortages at several military bases are the result of Treasury’s new electronic procurement system, the SANDF said on Wednesday.

The system required all suppliers to be registered on National Treasury’s central database, spokesperson Colonel Ronald Maseko said.

“This re-registration has led, in some instances, to some suppliers being unable to deliver or supply the SANDF as per the tender contract regulations, due to the fact that their details, as per new regulations, were incomplete on the system,” Maseko said.

Hundreds of soldiers at bases around the country were affected.

“The units which were affected by the low levels of rations are 2, 4 and 21 South African infantry battalions,” Maseko said.

Base commanders in Mpumalanga‚ Gauteng‚ and Limpopo ordered troops to return home after rations started running low on Sunday.

SA National Defence Union (Sandu) national secretary Pikkie Greeff wrote on Twitter on Tuesday: “Zuma our soldiers are hungry. But it's okay; we'll have a high court judge sort it out tomorrow morning.”

In a tweet on Wednesday, Greeff said: “The Sandf has just capitulated. Food has now been delivered to the affected bases. Soldiers are eating. Thanks Sandu. Amazing work!”

In a letter of demand, Sandu said the SANDF was legally obligated to provide the affected living-in members with daily rations.